The Los Angeles Lakers have used their amnesty clause on Metta World Peace. After failing to capitalize on Dwight Howard’s free agency, the Lakers also failed to rebuild the roster. The team waited to see what Howard would do before attempting to secure other valuable free agents and thus, they will have to now wait until summer 2014 to be title contenders. Even though the Lakers weren’t able to build the roster with free agent superstars like Howard and Chris Paul, they have successfully put together a great bench – an asset they didn’t have last year. In addition, they have brought in Nick Young.

Young spent last year with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 10.6 points per game in 23.9 minutes. At 28 years old, he has the youth factor that World Peace didn’t have. Young can create his own shots, proving this back in his Los Angeles Clippers days. Let’s face it; on the Lakers, being able to create your own shots is a huge benefit because no one is going to pass you the ball. With World Peace gone, Young will probably play small forward, sharing the position with new Laker Wesley Johnson. IfYoung’s childhood “idol” Kobe Bryant doesn’t return for the opening months of the season, Young could also play his natural position at guard.

If Andrew Bynum didn’t ruin his knees bowling or at the hairdresser or whatever happened him, Young would have had more success with the 76ers who designed the team with the understanding that Bynum would at least dress. After his experience, Young told ESPN, “I just felt like I needed this opportunity,” Young said. “Over the past couple of years, I feel like I’ve been getting disrespected a little bit out there and I feel with this stage the Lakers set, with the opportunity for playing time here, I can get my name back out there and get the respect I feel I deserve. I did this for myself, really.”

Although Johnson also plays small forward, Young said that World Peace’s old starting position should be his.